Bengaluru projects will be remembered for generations, says deputy CM Shivakumar
Bengaluru: Karnataka deputy chief minister D K Shivakumar on Wednesday unveiled a slate of major infrastructure and urban development initiatives planned for Bengaluru, asserting that the projects would leave a lasting imprint on the city’s history.
Addressing reporters, Shivakumar said the state government is accelerating several long-pending proposals, including roads, tunnels, flyovers and township developments, while simultaneously working to resolve land-related hurdles. He said the efforts are part of a comprehensive strategy to manage Bengaluru’s rapid expansion and persistent traffic congestion.
“Within the limits of the Bengaluru Development Authority (BDA), the projects being taken up by the state government will find a place in history books,” he said, emphasising their long-term significance.
Among the key initiatives, Shivakumar said the 120-km Peripheral Ring Road, also known as the Bengaluru Business Corridor, has already been officially notified. The government, he said, is in the process of collecting details from farmers to move the project forward, and the financial arrangements have been finalised.
The deputy chief minister also announced plans to develop smaller townships with a strong commercial component. As per the proposal, 35 per cent of the land in these townships will be earmarked for commercial use. He said landowners would be offered compensation that exceeds prevailing expectations.
In a bid to ease traffic congestion, Shivakumar said the BDA will construct a 1.5-km cut-and-cover tunnel linking both sides of Mehkri Circle and connecting to an existing flyover. He also revealed plans for a new flyover along the Outer Ring Road, stretching from the Tumakuru side to KR Puram, to improve east-west connectivity across the city.
Touching upon land disputes involving the Karnataka Industrial Area Development Board (KIADB) and Nandi Infrastructure Corridor Enterprises (NICE), Shivakumar said the government is exploring alternative land options where cases are under litigation. He indicated that the state would proceed with its projects even as it seeks required clearances, including a no-objection certificate from NICE.
The deputy chief minister further said a land parcel has been identified by the BDA for the construction of a skydeck, a landmark project aimed at addressing what he described as the city’s “funnel problem.” The skydeck, he said, will be built up to the height permitted by the Airports Authority of India.
Highlighting the Bengaluru Development Authority’s role in shaping the city, Shivakumar noted that the BDA is completing 50 years this year. To mark its golden jubilee, he said, the authority plans to set up ‘Saakshi Gudde’ (Living Proof) installations at various locations to showcase its achievements over the past five decades.
(with inputs from agencies)
